As Jesus was passing through Jericho, there was a chief tax collector who was rich who wanted to see Him. Since he was short he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see him for He was going that way. When Jesus came to that place He looked up. What made Him look rup? There was an impression from the Holy Spirit in His heart and the Holy Spirit told Jesus the man's name. Remember that when Jesus was on earth, He was fully human and had all our limitations. Heb 2:17. He entirely depended on the Holy Spirit for guidance and He always says unto us, "follow me". We must always seek to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and thus we'll be able to identify those in need in our circle of influence and we'll be able to help them.
Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down for He would be His guest. There was a hunger and thirst in Zacchaeus and that is why He he was willing to humble himself to climb a tree, just to see Jesus. He was a rich man and could have decided to write letter inviting Jesus to come to Him but his hunger could not allow him to be comfortable in his house.
How much cost are you willing to pay to see Jesus manifest Himself to you? Are you a diligent seeker? It's only those who seek Him diligently that find Him.
The fault-finders were present and begun to grumble that Jesus was a guest of a sinner. Jesus didn't explain himself to them or try to show them how the man was hungry for God not how the Holy Spirit led Him.
You don't have to always defend yourself to those who find faults with you when you are obeying God. Just obey God and leave them alone.
Zacchaeus stopped before entered his gate. The presence of Jesus was so strong and he was convicted of all he has cheated and taken advantage of. He remembered that it was a holy man who was going to enter his house which had been built with money he stole from poor people and took advantage of. He knew that He had to set those matters right. He told Jesus that He will restore four times everything he had stolen and give half of his wealth to the poor. He has taken advantage of some others who had died and since he had to set those matters right, he decided he cannot keep it in his house and thus had to clear that debt by giving to the poor since God is the owner of all things. When Jesus heard all this, He said that salvation had come in that house. What salvation came in that house? Salvation from the love of money. Unlike the rich young ruler we saw earlier, Jesus didn't tell Zacchaeus to sell everything he had but he was saved. Thus we see, it depends on how sick we are. Like cancer patients, the whole organ e.g a leg may have to be cut off completely or small part for complete healing to take place.
Zacchaeus was healed of his love of money. What about you; Have you gone to Jesus to seek Him to save you from the love of money?
The love of money is the root of all evil. 1Tim 6:6-11, Heb 13:5.
Also settling matters right is called restitution. You have to restore what does not belong to you. If you have a debt, you have to repay it, if you had stolen something, you have to restore it, if you have wronged someone, you have to apologise, if you have taken advantage of someone, you have to apologise. Your repentance is incomplete if you don't settle matters right with people. Repentance must have fruit otherwise it's not real. _Luke 3:8._ You have to confess your sins, that is you don't blame others but take them as your sins, and then forsake them for you to find mercy. _Prov 28:13_
Saul also wept tears of repentance but afterwards continued pursuing David. 1Sam 24:17-23.
Pharaoh also was repenting everyday time there was a plague but afterwards didn't allow children of Israel to go. Exodus chapel 5 to chapter 13.
Jesus gave a parable of a noble man who went a far distance and called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas and told them to work with until He came.
Each got one mina; each had equal opportunity and no one had advantage over the other since they were all equal.
What is it that God has given us all equal? Is it healthy? No, some are healthy others are sick? Is it wealth? No, some are wealthy others are poor? Is it intelligence? Of course No. Is it opportunities and privileges, talents or abilities? Of course no? What is is that God has given equal to everyone? Time. Yeah everyone has 24hrs each day. No one has 23 or 25. In matters of time we are all equal. The productivity will depend on how wisely we use. One made a profit ten times, another five times another wasted it. We are responsible on how we use our time. The way you are today is as a result of how you have been using your time in the past and the little decisions you have been making everyday. There is nothing you can for the time lost but you can start now. You can know more of God and the scriptures if you dedicate yourself to it and give time, or you can waste it by finding out all the gossip in your neighbourhood and all the coming program in your *TV(Tell-lies-vision).*
If you are faithful, you will hear one day, well done, good and faithful servant.
It's good that the Lord expects also from us something we can all accomplish despite your background, abilities or talents. He only expects faithfulness and no one has an advantage over the other. It's not success, it's Faithfulness that God expects of us.
The one who buried His talent was rebuked and asked why He never gave it to the bankers and it would have given interest. Giving it to the bankers could be giving encouragement to those who are serving God. Instead of wasting your time, why not use it to encourage others instead.
He also had a wrong opinion of His master and that is why He buried his coin, that he wasted his time on earthly pursuits that has no eternal value.
When you have a wrong understanding of God, you don't know Him as one who perfectly loves you, one who is all merciful and who is seeking your highest good in everything, you will not serve Him as you should. Have a right view of God. He is only seeking your highest good in everything he commands to do.
Will you be found faithful? If you are faithful now, more will be added to you.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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